Man held after unvaccinated son catches polio
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KOHAT: After a polio case was detected here on Thursday, the Kohat administration arrested the father of the affected child because he had refused to get his child vaccinated against polio when vaccinators visited his home. Two health supervisors and a patwari have also been taken into custody for showing negligence in performing their duty.
Three-year-old Mohammad is the second victim of polio in Dhodha area of Kohat district this year.
Deputy Commissioner of Kohat Riaz Khan Mehsud told Dawn on telephone that he issued orders for arrest after an inquiry revealed that the father of the affected child, Mullah Mohammad Yousuf, had not allowed vaccinators to give polio drops to his son.
Also read: Bill Gates sees eradication of polio: 'Spotlight's on Pakistan'
The arrested government officials were identified as health supervisors Shehzad Mir and Zarjanan, and the patwari of the area, Mohsin Iqbal.
The deputy commissioner said all detainees had been sent to Dera Ismail Khan jail under Section 3 of the MPO.
He said 56 people had so far been arrested this year for refusing to get their children vaccinated against polio.
Also on Thursday, two men were arrested in Kohat for not allowing vaccinators to give polio drops to their children. They were identified as Amir Khan and Hassan Khan.
Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015
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Comments (36) Closed
Jan 23, 2015 06:36am
Very good. Throw them in jail if they play with the lives of children.
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Jan 23, 2015 06:39am
good
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Jan 23, 2015 06:48am
This great news ! Parents and guardians need to be held accountable for preventing the vaccination of their children! Good job! #eradicatepolio
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Jan 23, 2015 06:53am
Like the Saudi system - they should amputate his leg...so that he can feel the pain his child will go through for his entire life just because he had a dogmatic father - poor child.
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Jan 23, 2015 06:54am
That's the way to go! Govt needs to go a step further by taking his children into protective custody and also employ forced neutering of people who don't vaccinate their children.
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Jan 23, 2015 06:56am
Too little and too late for the child
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Jan 23, 2015 07:25am
It would be really informative to know if we get to know why exactly they are refusing polio drops and preferring Jail? Is it halal issue?American conspiracy? population control drug? what is on their mind?
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Jan 23, 2015 07:33am
This has taken shape as a social evil ! Some stern action is necessary to deter such foolish people.
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Jan 23, 2015 08:13am
Excellent.
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Jan 23, 2015 08:25am
Good move, he should be treated as a criminal to ruin a human life, just because of his ignorance
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Jan 23, 2015 08:34am
Why don't you arrest the father. The officials are already at risk of their lives when they go to the remote areas.
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Jan 23, 2015 08:50am
Why this sincerity is not Seen in eradicating terrorism from Pakistan
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Jan 23, 2015 10:00am
Son contracting polio is his biggest punishment. Putting him in jail will do no good.
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Jan 23, 2015 10:20am
Why do they refuse polio?
I do not understand.
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Jan 23, 2015 10:21am
Why they do not allow vaccinators to give polio drops to kids?
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Jan 23, 2015 10:22am
Government should pass a bill to make vaccination mandatory for every child. It should be declared crime if not vaccinating a child.
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Jan 23, 2015 10:23am
One there is 'good polio' and 'bad polio'. This surely seems to be a case of 'Bad Polio'.
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Jan 23, 2015 10:31am
Confusing report:
1) Father was arrested because he refused to get his son vaccinated,
2) Health officials and patwari were arrested because of negligence in performing their duties.
If the father refused to get vaccinated his son then how the government official are found negligent though they have tried to vaccine the kid.
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Jan 23, 2015 10:51am
thats the only way now ,,,go ahead
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Jan 23, 2015 11:15am
@D Your phrasing suggests everyone should embrace polio...
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Jan 23, 2015 11:26am
@Mashman He would have gotten him vaccinated, had he loved him that much. His ego is just too big to feel any remorse.
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Jan 23, 2015 11:39am
Right time to set an example "This chap must be behind the bars for life" at-least he would be crippled same way as the child will be in future.
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Jan 23, 2015 11:45am
The father was wrong not to get his son vaccinated. But its tough that the sins of society should be visited upon an individual who lives within it. As a society we allow ignorant people such as mullahs to 'go forth and multiply'. It is very possible that the mullah of this man's mosque had a rant one Friday against the heathen practice of vaccination and how 'they' were trying to render Muslims impotent so they could not procreate. Yes this is what is said and we allow it to be said. How about these people shouldering part of the responsibility/punishment?
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Jan 23, 2015 12:27pm
There are only four countries with Polio, one being Pakistan. Religious leaders should promulgate fatwa for Polio vaccination drive.
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Jan 23, 2015 12:35pm
right move in right direction but the punishment should be monetary because if fathers or mothers go to jail, again child will suffer.
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Jan 23, 2015 12:38pm
Good decision,
Those who are refusing to get child vaccinated against polio, should be punished. In this way, they might vaccine their children
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Jan 23, 2015 12:48pm
Whoever is responsible for malnourished children's death in Thar. Put them behind the bars too.
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Jan 23, 2015 12:48pm
The father has suffered enough, however, to get the message across more effectively he should be condemned to compulsory community service. Whereby, he accompany polio vaccination teams to regions where the incidence of parents refusing their children be vaccinated is highest. His personal experience, though unfortunate, is the best example to win over the reluctant parents.
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Jan 23, 2015 01:28pm
@SAMREEN
Govt should take the child in custody and kept way from family. So polio not to be spread to other children.
Property and belonging of the father should be confiscated.
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Jan 23, 2015 01:29pm
@no more!
We are unable to understand that child is not our property but a responsibility to care.
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Jan 23, 2015 01:46pm
It is necessary to punish those who are against polio vaccination
Well done!
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Jan 23, 2015 02:10pm
they should broadcast interviews with these parents after they have realised their mistake in not allowing their child to have the vaccination. It may help save some children from the same mistake. The actual punishment for these parents will be watching their children grow up with polio.
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Jan 23, 2015 04:48pm
@no more! Are you serious! Copying most oppressive and corrupt system
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Jan 23, 2015 07:53pm
Sickness of son is extreme punishment for him, but his arrest will make his children suffer. Please release him.
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Jan 24, 2015 12:47am
@Boston, USA
Sorry sir, Saudi Arabia has the least crime rate in the world.
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Jan 24, 2015 04:47am
There should be legislation punishing those parents who refuse to get their children vaccinated
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